“Twenty-five years—that’s a quarter of a century. Makes a girl think!” So states Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe) in the movie, “Some Like it Hot.” She also wondered if her stocking seams were straight, but that’s another matter.
Whether you phrase it in terms of 25 years or as one-fourth a century, two and a half decades is a long time. And that is the qualification for which the Quarter Century Club is named—members have worked at Washington State University for 25 years. Once inducted into the club, those who reach 50 years after their hire date receive special recognition, even if they have retired, as half-century members.
The club’s first celebration was a dinner held May 11, 1934, with 16 charter members and two inductees. The two “newbies” would have started their career with WSU in 1909.
This year marks the 69th anniversary of the Quarter Century Club, and the celebration is a breakfast to be held 8 a.m., May 15, in the Compton Union Building Ballroom. However, a pre-breakfast photo shoot at 7:30 a.m. has been planned for the new inductees and 50-year members, who are:
25 Years
Carol B. Allen, Juan A. Alonso, Tamara Arrasmith, Charles R. Bacon, Virginia L. Baldwin, Mary Jane Bamberry, Susan E. Benson, Thomas W. Benson, Patricia Bezdicek, Mary F. Braun, John J. Brown, George R. Caldwell, Gail D. Chermak, Margaret L. Collier, Darrell P. Davis, Wayne L. Dewitt, Roy A. Dillahunt, Christopher Feise, Emmott H. Fisher, Duane J. Fraley, Eldon H. Franz, James Freed, Eloy R. Gonzalez, Lester C. Grammer, Larry R. Groseclose, William S. Hallagan, Richard W. Hattan, Julie A. Heath, Martha L. Hertz, Harley L. Hites, Elizabeth A. Hobbs, Daniel L. Hopkins, Teresa Huffstutler, Frederick S. Inaba, Birgitta M. Ingemanson, Larry M. Jackson, Alice F. Karl, Christopher J. Kell, Halbert S. Kerr, Ronald L. Kincaid, Marvin D. Kleene, David A. Kolva, Ronald A. Konen, James A. Kropf, David A. Lauer, Charles W. Leathers, James D. Lincoln, Molly C. Loaiza, Nicholas P. Lovrich, Susan M. Lundquist, Demeris E. Madison, Gerald H. Maring, Edward J. Mitchell, R. C. Mittelhammer, Lillian L. Mock, Sonja A. Moseley, Estel M. Mustard, Lind G. Niccoli, Alfonzo J. Perez, Robert P. Ponti, George W. Pratt Jr., Mary B. Read, Donald B. Reed, Robert E. Riley, Connie R. Rodeen, Lee E. Rogers, Charles R. Simpson, John Steinbock, Richard L. Stone, Susan L. Swan, Michael D. Tarola, John M. Thomas, John H. Wilson, Ianna J. Woltering, Milton A. Wright and David V. Youmans.
50 Years
James K. Ballard, Day L. Bassett, Vishnu Bhatia, Duane Carlson, Irvin C. Chmelir, Margaret W. Davis, Marion Dickson, Irma K. Ebbert, Jane Ericson, Richard Fry, Henry Grosshans, J. Walter Hendrix, Norris Holstad, Robert K. Koppe, John B. Lord, Eugene G. Patterson and Robert R. Smawley.
According to Human Resource Services, the current faculty member with the longest employment record, at 54 years, is John Gorham, a professor of veterinary microbiology and pathology. The current classified staff member with the longest record, at 47 years, is farm manager Earl Stuckel, with Prosser IAREC.
But the reigning senior member is Ike Deeter, a Pullman resident who turns 100 this July. He started with WSU in 1930. In three years, he’ll qualify for the three-quarters-century club. Now there’s something to think about!
For more information, call HRS, 335-4521.
